HELP US SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT "HALACHA FOR TODAY" !
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD OF HASHEM!
WE CURRENTLY HAVE NEARLY 1,000 DAILY READERS. OUR GOAL IS TO REACH 10,000 JEWS AROUND THE WORLD WITHIN A YEAR. ANY DONATION YOU GIVE IS APPRECIATED, AND WILL HELP WITH OUR UPCOMING ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN.
DEDICATION OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE AS WELL TO HAVE A DAY OF TORAH LEARNING BE A ZECHUS REFUAH SHELAIMA OR LEZECHER NISHMAS FOR SOMEONE DEAR TO YOU.
1) Any Tzedaka that one is accustomed to give (Meshulach at the door, in Shul, solicitation letters etc.) may be deducted from the amount owed to Ma'aser, as long as one stipulated when calculating the Ma'aser that he/she be allowed to distribute this money however they want. (Chofetz Chaim in Ahavas Chesed Perek 18:3. See also Shu"t Mishna Halachos Vol. 6 Siman 168)
2) Mishloach Manos that is given out to friends and family on Purim may not be bought with Ma'aser money (See Shu"t Chasam Sofer Orach Chaim Siman 196 for a lengthy discussion about this)
Matanos L'Evyonim that is given to poor people on Purim may not be given with Ma'aser money. (Being that this is a Takana D'Rabanan to give, it is considered a debt and thus may not be paid with Ma'aser. See Shu"t Maharil Siman 56. See also Mogen Avraham Orach Chaim Siman 694:1)
However, once the obligation of Matanos L'Evyonim was fulfilled by giving 2 coins to 2 poor people, any additional money one gives to additional poor people throughout the day of Purim, may be given from Ma'aser money. (Maharil ibid. See also Mishna Berura Siman 694:2 at length)
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER:
(Reader Submitted Questions of interest (on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topics) and my Answers taken from the Q & A page on the Halacha For Todaywebsite. For study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha. Questions can be sent to Halacha For Today)
Reader's Question:
Do men have Halachos of Tznius (Modesty)?
Is having sheva brachos with men and women who arent married at separate tables halachicaly wrong or is it just a sensitivity?
My Answer:
Of course men have Hilchos Tzniyus! It just manifests itself in different ways than women. (Click Here for archives and see Halachos for August 13 etc. where we discussed some particulars of Hilchos Tzniyus).
Tzniyus is an attitude. Tziyus is a way of life. Tzniyus is in how we act, how we talk, how we interact with one another, how we behave in public, how we behave in private, how we think, how we dream, who we are friends with, who our role models are, who we respect, who we look up to, how we raise our children, which music we listen to, which publications we bring into our home and read, etc. etc.
Regarding the Sheva Brachos, men and women, should not sit at the same tables, and should preferably have a Mechitza (or at least some visible separation such as a buffet table etc. dividing them). Though this isn't necessarily strict Halacha, it can definitely lead to many Halachic problems if they arent separated properly.
Also, even if it's only a "sensitivity" issue, it should still be avoided for that reason. Tzniyus issues apply to single people as well as to married people.
Our holy sages, the Chazal tell us
תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן עולם הבא, שנאמר הליכות עולם לו, אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות - one who studies [at least two] Halachos daily is assured a portion in Olam Haba - the world to come. (:מגילה כ"ח )
Important Numbers
